13 September 2001 Media Statement

Condolence books for New Zealanders to express grief

A condolence book is to be made available for New Zealanders to sign following the terrorist attacks on the United States yesterday.

"All of us in New Zealand have been shocked and appalled at the carnage and destruction caused by the terrorist attacks in the United States yesterday," Acting Prime Minister Jim Anderton and Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said.

"We know that New Zealanders will want to express their sympathy to the American people and those directly affected by the attacks.

"We have invited the Mayors of city councils throughout New Zealand to make a condolence book available in town halls or their offices for people to express their grief and sympathies over yesterday's events.

"These books will be presented to the American Embassy in Wellington.

"The American Embassy has also placed a condolence book outside their embassy in Thorndon, Wellington for those who wish to show their sympathy in this way," Ministers said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>